GAT-B 2026– The application form is open for pursuing the PG programmes and PHD courses through this entrance test. Graduate Aptitude Test – Biotechnology 2026 is the national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB). It serves as the gateway for admission to DBT-supported postgraduate programs (M.Sc., M.Tech., M.V.Sc., etc.) in Biotechnology and allied areas at participating universities/institutes across India.
The selection process of this is mentioned below along with other eligibility criteria and fellowship amount
BET 2026 Merit Lists and Benefits
Based on Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) 2026 performance, two merit list categories are prepared, following Government of India reservation norms.

Category-I (Top Merit)
- Eligible for DBT-JRF fellowship at any recognized university/institution in India for PhD enrolment.
Category-II
- Eligible for:
- Appointment in DBT-sponsored projects with fellowship (equivalent to NET/GATE, per DST guidelines).
- PhD enrolment (subject to institutional selection process).
- Note: No entitlement to DBT-JRF fellowship.
Common Question for GAT B 2026 Exam
Candidates fall in two category-Category-I (Top Merit): Candidates shortlisted in this category are eligible for the prestigious DBT-Junior Research Fellowship (DBT-JRF). They can avail the full fellowship (including stipend, contingency, and HRA if applicable) and pursue PhD at any recognized university or institution in India.
No. Selection in Category-II does not entitle you to the DBT-JRF fellowship. Only candidates in Category-I are eligible for the DBT-JRF fellowship. Category-II qualifiers can only avail project-based fellowships in DBT-sponsored projects or pursue PhD without DBT funding.
Important Dates for GAT-B 2026
Application and Fee Dates
| Event | Date and Time |
| Online registration and form submission | March 19 to April 9, 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Exam fee payment (Credit/Debit Card/UPI/Net Banking) | Up to April 9, 2026 (11:50 PM) |
| Corrections in application form (online only) | April 11 to 13, 2026 |
GAT B 2026 Exam Details
- Exam Date: May 17, 2026 (Sunday)
- Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours)
- Timing:
| Exam | Time |
| GAT-B | 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
| BET | 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Medium: English
- Syllabus: As per Information Bulletin
Fee Structure (in INR)Category GAT-B BET Both (GAT-B & BET) General (UR)/OBC-NCL/EWS 1300 1300 2600 SC/ST/PwD 650 650 1300
Note: The exam is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
GAT-B 2026 Stipend for Qualified Candidates
Qualified candidates admitted to DBT-supported Post Graduate programmes in Biotechnology and allied areas at participating institutions/universities in India will receive the following monthly stipends:
Stipend AmountsProgramme Monthly Stipend (INR) M.Sc. Biotechnology & Allied Areas 5,000 M.Sc. Agricultural Biotechnology 7,500 M.Tech. / M.V.Sc. programmes 12,000
Key Conditions
- Stipends are disbursed through participating institutions after verifying enrollment in prescribed DBT-supported PG programmes.
- For the second year, continuation depends on satisfactory progress, certified by the institution/university.
Common Qs for GAT B Exam 2026
It ranges from Rs.5000 to Rs.12000. M.Sc. Biotechnology & Allied Areas5,000.M.Sc, Agricultural Biotechnology7,500, M.Tech. / M.V.Sc. programmes12,000
If you are choosing to pursue PHD you are not eligible, Stipend is given only if you are admitted to a DBT-supported PG programme at a participating university/institute through GAT-B 2026.
GAT-B 2026 Reservation and Admission Policy
Government of India reservation policy applies for admissions of GAT-B 2026 qualified candidates to DBT-supported PG programmes in Biotechnology and allied areas at participating institutions/universities.
Merit List Process
- Post-results, an All-India category-wise merit list is prepared based on GoI reservation policy.
- Participating institutions/universities will separately advertise admission calls per their norms.
Key Disclaimers (Repeated for Clarity)
- RCB and DBT have no role in:
| Aspect | Responsibility |
| Admission/selection process | Institutions |
| Seat transfer/cancellation | Institutions |
| Seat conversion | Institutions |
| Fee refund policy | Institutions |
Transfer and Vacant Seats
- Transfers and vacant seat conversions follow institutional norms only—no involvement from RCB/DBT.
How to Apply for GAT B 2026
- Visit the official NTA website: https://exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/ or https://dbt.nta.ac.in/
- Register and fill the online application form.
- Upload required documents (photo, signature, etc.).
- Pay the application fee.
- Download the confirmation page.
Application Fee (for GAT-B only):
- General/OBC-NCL/EWS: ₹1300
- SC/ST/PwD: ₹650
(If applying for both GAT-B and BET, the fee is doubled.)
GAT B Exam 2026 Eligibility Criteria
BET 2026 Academic Eligibility
Candidates must hold relevant degrees in Biotechnology/Life Sciences or allied fields (Biomedical, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Botany, Chemistry, Computational Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Zoology, etc.).
UG Qualifications (4-year/8-semester)Degree Type General/EWS/OBC Marks SC/ST/PwD Marks Bachelor’s with research 75% aggregate (or equivalent grade) 70% (5% relaxation per NEP 2020/UGC PhD norms) B.Tech/B.E. 60% aggregate (or equivalent grade) 55% aggregate
PG Qualifications
- Master’s (M.Sc./M.Tech./M.V.Sc./M.Pharm./Integrated M.Sc./M.Tech./MBBS): 60% marks for General/EWS/OBC; 55% for SC/ST/PwD (aggregate or equivalent grade).
Other Criteria
- Final-year/Result Awaited (RA) candidates: Eligible; must submit Undertaking/Attestation Form (Appendix-III) certified by Head of Institute—non-compliance leads to rejection.
- Age Limit (as on last application date): Up to 28 years (General/EWS); +5 years (33 years) for SC/ST/PwD/Women; +3 years (31 years) for OBC-NCL.
- Nationality: Bonafide Indian citizen and resident.
.Common Qs on GAT B Exam 2026 Qualification
Bachelor’s with Research: – General/EWS/OBC: 75% aggregate – SC/ST/PwD: 70% aggregate,B.Tech / B.E.: – General/EWS/OBC: 60% aggregate – SC/ST/PwD: 55% aggregate,Master’s (M.Sc./M.Tech./M.V.Sc./M.Pharm./Integrated M.Sc.-M.Tech./MBBS etc.): – General/EWS/OBC: 60% aggregate – SC/ST/PwD: 55% aggregate
General/EWS: Maximum 28 years – OBC-NCL: Maximum 31 years (+3 years relaxation) – SC/ST/PwD/Women: Maximum 33 years (+5 years relaxation)
Detailed eligibility and list of participating institutes are available in the official Information Bulletin.
Exam Pattern
- Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Total Questions: 160 (but candidates attempt 120)
- Total Marks: 240
Section A (Compulsory):
- 60 MCQs (10+2 level) from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics & Biology
- 1 mark each → Total 60 marks
- Negative marking: 0.5 mark deducted for wrong answer
Section B:
- 100 MCQs (Graduate/Bachelor’s level) from Basic Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology & allied areas
- Attempt any 60 questions
- 3 marks each → Total 180 marks
- Negative marking: 1 mark deducted for wrong answer
Unattempted questions get 0 marks. The paper is in English only.
Syllabus
- Section A: Standard 10+2 level Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology.
- Section B: Graduate-level topics including:
- Biomolecules, Enzymes, Metabolism, Bioenergetics
- Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics
- Recombinant DNA Technology, Immunology, Bioinformatics
- Plant & Animal Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, etc.
Detailed syllabus PDF is available on the RCB or NTA website.
Official Websites
- NTA GAT-B/BET Portal: https://exams.nta.nic.in/gat-bet/





